Air cleaner



Feb. 20, 1940. F. P. BlNG MAN AIR CLEANER 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1957 IN VENTOR Wade)"; 6% 7? 5117577 21 A TTO R NE V6.

Feb. 20, 1940. F. P. BlNGMAN 2,191,187

AIR CLEANER Filed Dec. 5, 1957 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 A TTORNE 1/55.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CLEANER Application December 3, 1937, Serial No. 177,960

6 Claims.

My invention relates to air cleaners, and particularly to a method and means for washing and cleaning the air of foreign particles with which it is ladened.

In my Patents No. 1,966,280, issued July 10, 1934, and No. 2,021,281, issued November 19, 1935, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the air cleaner in combination with a spray booth for paint and the like was illusm trated, described and'claimed. The air in the booth became laden with paint particles and was drawn into the cleaning device where the paint particles were separated and were accumulated in a reservoir from which they could later be re- 15 claimed. Thereafter the air was propelled through an eliminator in which the remainder of the particles and moisture were removed before it was exhausted into the atmosphere.

In practicing my present invention, I have 20 provided a plurality of tubular conduits for the air connected in multiples through a common trunk line from which the air is exhausted into the atmosphere. Air is drawn from the spray booth, or similar device containing air to be 25 cleaned, and passed through a water spray where it is thoroughly washed. The air is then directed parallel to a side opening at the bottom of the tubular conduit where it is swirled as it passes therethrough and is freed from the re- 30 maining particles and water by the resulting centrifugal action. This construction provides free passage for the air at all times, and eliminates the possibility of clogging and shutdowns which has occurred when baflies were employed 35 across the passages.

A separate spray is preferably employed with each conduit or a pair of conduits may be employed for each spray to have the air swirled in the opposite direction in the pair by having the enclosed end and the opening in the side above the bottom is preferably separable from the remainder of the conduits so that it may be 50 removed and the collected particles reclaimed.

The front wall of the cleaner may be protected from impinging particles by a film of water which passes over its exposed face. One or several troughs are disposed at the top edge 55 of the wall having a toothed edge to prevent dross fromflowing over the edge with the water and to provide a uniform film. Water is supplied to the trough, preferably at several points, and flows over the top edge in a continuous film which passes over the exposed surface of the cleaning device. The water is returned to a reservoir along with any particles which would otherwise have impinged upon the face of the device.

The cleaner may be'disposed horizontally at one'of a'plurality of sides of a booth, or may be 0 disposed'above and/or below the booth alone or with others disposed at the sides, to meet the requirements of the various uses to which the air cleaner is adapted.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are: to provide a method of cleaning air which embodies passing the air through a spray of water and swirling the air thereafter as it is moved towards a discharge opening; of directing air after its passage through a restricted aperture and a water spray into a centrifuge; to propel air through an opening in a tubular conduit in'a direction substantially tangential to a side thereof; to propel air into a tubular conduit in such manher as to cause said air to swirl as it is passed therethrough; to provide a blower for discharging air from a trunk line to which a plurality of conductors are connected and through which said air is drawn as it is swirled therein; to draw air through an aperture across which water is sprayed and into an opening in the side of a tubular conduit to cause the air to travel a helical path as it is drawn through the conduit; to provide a film of water over the face of the cleaning device to prevent particles from impinging thereon, and in general to provide an air cleaner which is simple in construction, economical of manufacture and positive in operation.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be specifically pointed out, or will 40 become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a broken, perspective view of a cleaningbooth and air cleaning device embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken view in elevation of the air cleaning device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 44 thereof;

Fig. 5' is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 5-5 thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a broken view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a modifled form thereof.

The air cleaner l0, herein illustrated and to be described, is shown disposed at the side of a booth or tunnel II in which the air becomes laden with particleswhich are to be separated therefrom in the air cleaner. The air cleaner is shown disposed at the side of the booth or tunnel and it is to be understood that it may be disposed elsewhere as at an end, top and/or bottom and employed in multiples in any sucharrangement to meet the requirements of 'the air conditioning problem. X

The air cleaner l embodies a base |2 in the nature of a tank containing a fluid, preferably water. A plurality of air conductors l3 project upwardly from the rear of the reservoir, and

'- are joined in multiples to a header l4 which is connected to a blower |5 which draws air from the header and conductors and exhausts it into the atmosphere, preferably at a remote point outside of the building. The conductors or conduits l3 are preferably cylindrical in form and are provided with a shoulder I5 which rests upon plate I! when projecting through an aperture thereof. The plate I! is supported on an angle member 8 secured to the rear top edge of the reservoir l2.

Between the front and rear faces of the reservoir a cross brace I9 is provided which supports the lower end of a front wall 2| which slopes slightly relative to the vertical and which is curved at its lower end at 22. The plate I! is secured to the wall 2| by a suitable filler element 23 which seals the wall 2| with the top of the reservoir. An opening 24 is provided between the end of the wall 22 and the front edge 25 of: the reservoir to form a passage for air which is drawn therethrough by the blower |5 into the area 26 disposed above the fluid 21 in the reservoir.

The plate I1 is extended downwardly at 28 into the fluid 21 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 29 disposed midway between the top of the plate H and the fluid 21. While I have illustrated the portion 28 as being an extension of the plate it is to be understood that a separate plate having apertures 29 therein may be employed, bolted, or otherwise secured to the plate l1, and to the filler element 23.

A stud 3| projects downwardly from the plate I! and carries a target 32 disposed centrally of the aperture 29. It is to be understood that such a stud and target is employed for each of the a pertures 29, the number of which will vary depending uponthe capacity of the air cleaner to be provided.

Below the edge 25 of the reservoir a conductor 33 is supported and provided with a plurality of nozzles 34, one disposed opposite to each of the apertures 29 aligned to project a fluid against a target 32. The nozzle may be of any form, but is preferably constructed in accordance with the teaching of the above mentioned patents which readily permits the removal of the nozzle and its adjustment to be directed towards the target 32.

The plurality of conductors l3 have the lower end portion 38 provided with an opening 31 in the side, formed by the tangential extension of a portion 38 which is secured to an extending por tion 36 of an adjacent conductor. 31 is disposed to be aligned with the opening 29 in the plate 28 in position to receive the air after it passes through the opening to cause it to swirl The opening within the conductor portions 36 and I3 as it is drawn therethrough. The air is materially agitated when swirled within the portion 36, which swirling decreases as the air is drawn through the conductor.

Across the top edge of the front wall 2|, one or a plurality of troughs 38 are disposed, bolted, or

other-wise secured thereto. A conductor 39 ex-' tends along the top edge of the wall 2|, and is provided with a plurality of spaced conductors 4| extending through the wall and projecting downwardly into the trough. A distributing plate 42 is disposed about the projecting end of the conductor 4| for controlling the flow of water into the trough. Stop-cocks 43 may be provided for the conductor 4| for individually controlling the flow of water therefrom.

Along the front end of the trough a toothed edge 44 is provided for the purpose of screening the particles or substances floating upon the water and preventing their passage over the edge of the trough to thereby secure a uniform flow at all points throughout its length. A uniform film of water is thus provided flowing downward over the front of the trough and over the face of the wall 2| in a position to receive sprayed particles which may be directed towards the cleaning apparatus. The front of the apparatus is thereby always retained clean, the impinging particles being picked up in the flowing film of water and carried into the reservoir.

The fluid employed for passing over the front of the cleaner and for spraying through the nozzle 34 is withdrawn from the reservoir and recirculated through the troughand nozzle. A supply conductor 45 is disposed near the front edge of the reservoir projecting into a housing 46 which extends along the front end of the reservoir substantially midway between the top level and bottom of the water 21 contained therein. The housing is formed of a pair of angle members 41 and 49 having their flanges projecting toward each other but slightly spaced apart at 49 to permit the fluid to pass through the opening formed thereby into the housing. A suitable cover 5| encloses the top of the angle members and the liquid withdrawn from the housing is comparatively clean,

free of the dross which floats on the top of the water and the sludge which collects on the bottom of the reservoir. An outlet opening 52 may be'provided on the front lower portion of the reservoir for the purpose of drainage.

A fresh water supply. line 53 is connected through the wall of the reservoir in communication with a float operated valve 54 which is available to regulate the amount of water in the reservoir and retain the height at a desired point. A pump 55 has the intake side connected to the conduit 45 and withdraws water from the reservoir and pumps it into a tank 55 from which it is circulated by a conduit 51 to the conduit 33 connected to the nozzle 34, and also by a conduit 58 to the conduit 39 for supplying water to the troughs 38. The fluid circuit is self contained, the .Water employed for cleaning the air being conextension of the conduits l3. In this construction, the enclosed bottom traps and retains the materials thrown off by the air and the element 59 may be periodically removed and the material reclaimed.

In operation, the blower I I draws air through the header l4 and the plurality of conductors I3, and through the opening 24 above the reservoir. The air drawn through the opening 24 passes through the openings 29 across the faces of which a spray of water is produced by the impinging of the jets from the nozzles 34 on to the targets 32.

The air will thereafter be drawn through the openings 31 in the wall of conductor portions 36 where it will be swirled as it passes upwardly through the conductors l3 into the header and blower. The swirling of the air in the conductors removes the moisture contained therein and also frees the air of any particles which may remain after passing through the spray and opening 29.

The construction is novel in eliminating any restricted passages, employed heretofore, and as a result the servicing which was often required for cleaning the baffles is entirely eliminated. The passage of the fluid over the exposed wall of the device prevents the wall surface from being soiled and loaded with paint or other substances being sprayed.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, asset forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. An air cleaner including, in combination, means for moving the air to be cleaned, a curtain of water flowing transversely across the path of said air, a conductor embodying a substantially vertically disposed cylindrical element having an opening in the wall thereof adjacent its lower end, a wall merging with and disposed tangentially of said cylindrical element for directing air through said opening substantially tangentially of said wall to cause said air to revolve along said wall in an upward helical path as it is moved through said element, whereby the water and impurities are separated from the air by centrifugal force, said element having an opening at the upper end thereof for discharging the cleaned air. a

2. In an air cleaner, means for moving the air to be cleaned, means for introducing a liquid into the air to be cleaned, an eliminator comprising a substantially vertically disposed cylindrical duct, said duct having an air inlet opening adjacent the lower end thereof, and a wall merging with and disposed tangentially of said cylindrical duct for conducting and directing the wet air into said opening tangentially of said cylindrical duct, so

as to cause said wet air to travel in a helical path upwardly in said duct and thereby eliminate the liquid and impurities therefrom by centrifugal substantially vertically disposed cylindrical duct,

said duct having an air inlet opening in the side thereof adjacent the lower end thereof, the lower end of said duct being open, and a wall merging with and disposed tangentially of said cylindrical duct for conducting and directing the wet air into said duct side opening tangentially of said duct so as to cause said wet air to travel in a helical path upwardly in said duct and thereby eliminate the liquid and impurities therefrom by centrifugal force, the eliminated liquid and impurities traveling in a helical path downwardly in a thin layer on the inner surface of said duct, and the purified air passing out of the upper end thereof,

4. An air cleaner including a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid, a substantially horizontally disposed wall extending from one side of said reservoir in spaced relation above the liquid level therein, a depending wall on said horizontal wall having its lower edge below the liquid level in said reservoir so as to form a chamber, said depending wall having an air inlet opening therein, means for introducing liquid into air passing through said opening, a substantially vertically disposed cylindrical eliminator mounted upon and extending through said horizontally disposed wall and into said chamber, the lower end of said eliminator being open, that portion of said eliminator within said chamber having an air inlet opening in the side wall thereof, a wall merging with and disposed tangentially of said cylindrical eliminator for directing the wet air into said eliminator opening tangentially of the cylindrical wall thereof, so as to cause said air to revolve in a helical path whereby the water and impurities are eliminated from the air by centrifugal force, and means for moving the air to be cleaned.

5. An air cleaner comprising a reservoir for a liquid, a plurality of substantially vertically disposed cylindrical ducts having lower open ends extending into said reservoir and terminating below the liquid level thereof so that the liquid therein forms a seal for said open ends, the side walls of said ducts adjacent the lower ends thereof having air inlet openings therethrough, means for directing the air to be cleaned into said openings tangentially of the cylindrical walls thereof so as to cause said air to revolve in helical paths upwardly and eliminate impurities therein by centrifugal force, a header connected to the upper ends of said ducts and means for moving the air to be cleaned.

6. An air cleaner comprising a reservoir for a liquid, means for introducing water into the air to be cleaned, a plurality of substantially vertically disposed cylindrical ducts having lower open ends extending into said reservoir and terminating below the liquid level thereof so that-the liquid therein forms a seal for said open ends, the side walls of said ducts adjacent the lower ends thereof having air inlet openings therethrough, means for directing the air to be cleaned into said openings tangentially of the cylindrical walls thereof so as to cause said air to revolve in helical paths upwardly and eliminate the water and impurities therein by centrifugal force, a header connected to the upper ends of said ducts and means for moving the air to be cleaned.

FREDERICK P. BINGMAN. 

